Sixth Graders Are Strange!

One year of teaching sixth grade has taught me so much!  Sixth graders are just strange.  On Friday, a student crawled under his desk after going up to the SMARTboard for his turn during our Spelling Bee game challenge, and cried.  This was during a friendly, supportive activity, where students were partnered and could call on help.  Today, another student stumble-walked across the classroom wearing one chunky, Jordan-type sneaker and one Converse shoe with a very flat sole.  My co-teacher told her to walk properly and she hobbled.

I don't mind silliness at all, but lately I find myself wondering: how will my sixth graders fare in seventh grade?  Are they ready?  Will the tantrums, expectations of hand-holding, extra tears cease magically in September?  I hope so.  Prior to teaching sixth grade for the first time, I've never seen so much crying in school over little to nothing.  I also have never seen middle schoolers work so much and learn as much as my sixth graders did under the new Common Core Learning Standards.

More reflections to come as I wrap up this year and begin my seven summer vacation since becoming a teacher.

Love,
Miss M

Counting Down

I have officially begun my countdown until the last day of school.  There are eleven more days until summer vacation.  I like to think of it as: here in New York, we go to school until July.  Seriously.  Wednesday, June 26 is our last day of school.

Shades of Yellow

Spirit day number one: where school colors, purple and gold.  Here's my take on it.  Perfect excuse to wear all yellow, and my purple lipstick of course.

yellow blouse from Forever 21, mustard yellow J.Crew pencil skirt, yellow Seychelles pumps, Express pearl earrings, M.A.C. Heroine lipstick

all golden!

loving my J.Crew gold bangle set

all yellow

Playing With Toys

I confiscated a toy car in my SETSS class today. I put it right into my striped, colorful pouch from J,crew that I've taken to carrying everywhere with me.  I don't know how many times I can tell a child to put away a toy before taking it away. I'll give it back tomorrow, if all is well. 

List of things I've confiscated: phones, hats, miniature skateboards, footballs, rubber bands, ballons and a toy car. 

Is it June yet?

Love,

Miss M

TL: Sixth Graders Need Structure

What I've learned from eight months of teaching sixth grade: big changes happen in sixth grade year. Seventh grade remains the most challenging, but anticipate changes. Sixth graders go from elementary school babies to true middle schoolers.  Create structure, structure, and more structure.  Sixth graders want and need you to tell them how to do every, and I mean every, little thing.  That I know now.

Teacher Lesson: Sixth graders need structure.